Morning journal and courier., 1887-08-13
SOME WOMEN WHO FENCE.
Mimic DueIs Fought With Polls D
 Fair Western Relles.

Fair Western Relies
 From the San Francisco Chroniclel
 It is said that Grecian women would en- ter the arena in the old Olympian days and wrestle with one another te encourage their children and strengthen themselves. Thus Spartan mothers had Spartan sons, and the name to this date is synonymous with bravery and physical endurance. In these modern days ladies as rule consid-
 CT that their constitutions are too delicate
 for any greater physical exercise than a
 gentle stroll or a little shopping, and 20
 many physician has deplored the absence
 of proper bodily exercise among the fair
 sex and has preached wise though ineffec-
 tual sermons about the need of it. But
 fashion, like a miracle, will do what preach
 ing will not do, and as in the East fencing
 has become fashionable, and the fashions
 travel with the star ot empire, so fencing
 is now being introduced in this city.
 For some months past ladies' fencing
 school has been conducted by Lester Shaff-
 ner in Irving Hall, where as many as twenty
 ladies attend regularly for lessons in the art
 of self-defence. A reporter looked in at the
 hall and found the teacher engaged with one
 of his brightest pupils, Miss Rose Wallridge.
 As the young lady's dress is of interest to the far sex. the reporter must, however im-
 perfectly, attempt description of it. She was clothed from head to foot in soft blue material Down to the waist she wore loose tunic, and from the waist down a pair of loose-ftting trousers which, while they permitted the most perfect freedom ot action, were quite compatible with the most rigid demands of modesty.
 Miss Wallridge drew on wire mask which protected her face and the top of her head, rrn r1nSr <NG noh A1-4e Then, as her teacher cried "Ready! Salutei" she took her position a few feet from him on top strip of rubber cloth and, foil in hand, faced the visitor. With infinite skill the elaborate salute of the French fencing school 1 was performed. The thin blade quivered, l lightning rapidity or rested passively in her | left hand, while her right waved toward her | opponent. Then the engagement conn., menced. The lady had long since discarded | the lighter foil which the members of the | fairer sex always patronize at first, and for | over an hour, with short rests, the sword | play continued, right or left hand being used | apparently with equal ease. Thrice did the | teachers blade encircle the pupils in an ef- | fort to disarm her and thrice he failed.
 At the request of the reporter different 1 thrusts were purposely introduced. Shaf- hand to the level of his knee and attempted the low tierce thrust. In flash it was not only parried, but responded to with a second tierce thrust from his fair opponent. One of the prettiest thrusts is made by preluding the actual thrust by the complete revolution of the foil in circle, technically known as "falkenadian" thrust. The blade flashes and before the opponent knows what thrust is intended he is pricked on the chest A "cut" thrust is made by turning the wrist from the palm up to the palm down and bringing the foil point around in half circle and then attacking.
 Every imaginable thrust and parry was i exhibited, and yet the slim arm was untirsd. | The contest was genuine one, and the lady l evinced both skill and grace. In conyersa- 1